Football: Zidane returns to the Stade de France, the scene of his successes with the national team.
After two wins in as many matches, Zinédine Zidane hopes to extend the euphoria against Italy on Friday in the Nations League, celebrating his reunion as coach of Les Bleus at the Stade de France, where he experienced glory in 1998.
Published on:
4 min Reading time
The former number 10, who forged part of his legend with the French national team on the pitch in Saint-Denis, will return to his home ground, but this time as a coach. In a sold-out stadium, the welcome should match the myth, as his start at the helm of the Tricolores has been nothing short of idyllic.
As he prepares to make his first appearance before the French public since his appointment on July 28, undeniable memories will resurface for the double scorer in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil (3-0), who has lived so many moments at the Stade de France, from his decisive shot against Spain in the opening match (1-0) on January 28, 1998, to his last appearance against Mexico (1-0) on May 27, 2006, just before the end of his playing career at the World Cup in Germany.
“It’s a great emotion. We want to continue writing another page, another story,” said the coach on Thursday.
The context could not be more favorable for Zidane, who has so far been flawless on the Bleus bench. After a victory in Turkey (1-0) with his key players on September 25, the successor to Didier Deschamps made a statement by bringing home three points from Belgium three days later after significantly reshaping and rejuvenating his team (1-0).
The Zidane effect is fully felt, and even the absence of captain Kylian Mbappé, who scored in Turkey but had to leave the squad due to a left knee injury, has not hindered the positive momentum of the French team.
Return of the key players
A new playing philosophy focused on ball possession, newcomers integrating perfectly, and a solid foundation based on the core of a fresh World Cup semi-finalist group: the coach, who said he was “blown away by everyone,” could not hope for better for his first gathering.
At the Stade de France, it will be important not to squander the goodwill among supporters, symbolized by excellent television audience figures (6.8 million viewers for Turkey-France, 6.3 million for Belgium-France, according to Médiamétrie).
“I’m not thinking at all about negative things, quite the opposite. I have an incredible team, so I will give everything,” Zidane explained.
As for Italy, which is trying to rebuild under Roberto Mancini after missing its third consecutive World Cup, they seem within reach of the French, even though the Nazionale just won comfortably in Turkey (4-1).
The Azzurri, against whom "ZZ" ended his playing career with a headbutt to Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final after scoring first with a "panenka" penalty, are not just any opponents for the former playmaker, who spent five years at Juventus (1996-2001). To challenge them, Zidane can rely on his key players, who were rested in Brussels on Monday, including Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, who scored a stunning goal from a personal effort just after coming on late in Belgium.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner is expected to wear the captain's armband in Mbappé's absence and will look to assert himself, even though he has been the least visible blue star under Zidane so far. After a successful first tournament with the French national team (6 goals at the 2026 World Cup), the Parisian, positioned as a No. 9 or false No. 9 like at club level, will be in the spotlight. But all eyes will once again be on Zidane, more than ever the iconic figure of this French team.
More from this section
World Judo Championships: Clarisse Agbégnénou and the French team in search of gold medal
Nations League: Zidane returns to Stade de France as France faces off against Italy.
Manchester City case: the club files an appeal, the Federation mentions "significant repercussions"
Athletics: Pole vaulter Armand Duplantis withdraws from the 2027 indoor season.
In a struggling Senegal, the Youth Olympic Games have yet to generate enthusiasm.
